summary: millie wants her ears pierced, sam and dean improvise- the winchester way.
Of course, there were a lot of difficult parts of raising a child. Even more so if they weren't yours to begin with. Being parentified older siblings to be exact. No, Sam and Dean wouldn't trade it for anything else. Dean always found it funny, thinking back to himself finding it difficult to look after Sammy when they were younger. He had no idea what he was in for with a little sister, she always had something out of the ordinary to bring up. Like, one moment of many to come where she'd ask about something girly she wanted that her two brothers had no experience in.
"Can I get my ears pierced?" was the first thing Millie blurted out to Sam as he approached her at the front of the school.
He paused, face twisting in amusement. "Did y'have a good day?" He jokingly tried to change the subject.
Millie's shoulders slumped, being able to sense witty sarcasm coming off Sam's tone.
"Come on, Sam. I'm almost ten. Every girl in my class has earrings." Millie stood up straighter as if she could win her point by becoming more serious.
Sam slug his arm around her shoulder, guiding her to begin walking back to the motel with him.
"Where's Dean?" she noticed when they weren't walking to the impala which wasn't in sight.
"Thought I'd walk you today. Dean had to go grab some things, he'll be waiting for us at the room."
"Do you think he'd let me get my ears pierced?" She looked up at her big brother as they walked and talked.
Sam pursed his lips. "You sure that's something you wanna do? First your ears, next thing you'll be getting your nose pierced." Sam joked in a serious parental voice.
"No I won't! I'll never do that... Just my ears, I promise. Wouldn't they look so pretty?" Millie lashed back, like his thoughts were the craziest thing she'd ever heard.
Sam chuckled over her serious defense. "I don't know, kid. Let's see what Dean says."
Millie's brows frowned, she didn't respond and continued to walk. Usually, 'I don't know' wasn't a good start.
Back at the motel, Millie pushed through Sam to the door, eager to ask Dean her burning request. "Hey De! How was your day?" Millie swung her backpack off her shoulder, onto the chair.
Dean glanced back from the kitchenette suspiciously. "What'd you do?"
"What? Nothing. Nothing. At. All." Millie raised her eyebrows, ready to put on the sweetest face she could muster up.
"Then, what do you want...?" Dean glanced between her and Sam, sharing a short look with him. Sam shrugged, gesturing to Millie, ready for her to fire on all cylinders.
She paused then went again. "Can I pleeeaasse, get my ears pierced?" She blinked real cute like.
Well, he was preparing to hear worse. "Hm, where's this coming from all a sudden?"
She went on to explain how every girl in the fourth grade had earrings and how they looked so pretty on each and every one. She noted how some girls got to change theirs into dangly ones and all had different colors.
"That's a big responsibility y'know. You gotta clean them so they don't get infected n' stuff." Dean warned.
"I can be sooo responsible. I would take care of it all, you guys wouldn't have to help me do a thing." She stated confidently.
Dean sighed. "I believe you sweetheart. Just not sure dad would give me the green light."
"He doesn't have to know." Millie blurted out without thinking. She was getting to an age where her father's regular absence and lack of interest in their lives was becoming prominent. She didn't mean it in a mean way, just wanted to trust that Dean could allow such a decision.
Dean was quiet, he thought for a moment. "I don't know how much I trust bringing you someplace..." He murmured.
"For that, hell, you could do it." Sam joked.
Dean shot Sam an unusual look. "Y'know, that's not a half bad idea."
Millie looked back and forth between them. "What?! No way..."
"You want your ears pierced, kid? You got it." Dean clicked his tongue, half joking, half serious.
"Um, are you being serious?" Millie asked cautiously.
"I mean, hey. If you're up for it, sure. But you gotta be sure you trust me now, eh?" Dean clarified.
Millie sat in thought for a moment. Pierced ears? Done right here, right now? It is what she wanted after all, even though she thought that was a little crazy of Dean to suggest.
She huffed in agreement. "Okay. But please don't mess it up!" She whined.
Later that evening, Dean managed to gather up some supplies after looking up things to use when 'piercing at home'. He shook his head to himself, not believing what he was about to do. However, he loved seeing his little girl happy.
"Alright, hop up." Dean patted the table where he was preparing everything. Sam hoisted her up.
Millie sat criss crossed, rocking back and forth with excitement and nervousness.
"Wait!" She sprung up, startling both of them. "I don't have any earrings to put in." Her voice grew sad.
A smirk found its way onto Dean's lips. "Already got that covered, kiddo."
"You have earrings?! How? Can I see them?" Millie peered over her shoulder to the clutter of items scattered.
"Not- until I'm done. Let it be a surprise." Dean said, his patience and nerves wearing thin.
Dean reached over, wiping her ears sloppily with a cotton ball. He then dotted her ears with a sharpie and stood back, scrunching his face to ensure evenness which made Millie giggle.
"Here. Hold these to your ears for a few minutes." Dean handed her two ice cubes, then turned to sterilize a sewing needle.
"I can't believe you're actually doing this." Sam breathed with some nervousness to his tone, shaking his head at his brother. He shrugged his shoulders in return, making a gesture at Millie behind her back.
"You sure you know what you're doing?" He asked again, trying not to glance nervously at Millie.
"It's pretty straightforward, Sammy." Dean said, as if he had done this before.
"You ready, kid?" Dean stepped into view.
"Mhm." She hummed in hesitation. Her nerves shot up through the roof when she eyed the needle pinched in Dean's fingers.
"Wait!" She moved again. "Is it gonna hurt?" she asked, realizing she hadn't thought about that.
"I dunno, we've never pierced our ears before..." Sam trailed off.
"Sam..." Dean shot him a glare. "Not helping."
Millie's expression glazed over with worry. "It shouldn't be that bad, just two seconds, okay? It's a pretty soft part of your ear..." Dean explained, cursing himself internally if he were to fuck any of this up.
She took a moment, trying to ease her mind. Sam reached out and grasped her hand, squeezing it tight. "I'm right here, bug." He smiled.
She quickly gasped as Dean pierced through the first ear, not even seeing it coming with Sam's moment of distraction. "Oh." she breathed out in relief. The three of them laughed, Dean's being partly nervous laughter.
"One more time. You did awesome." He praised.
Dean lined it up once more and pierced through the second one. Mille let out the breath she was holding. "Is it done? Can I see?" She asked, trying not to bounce up at down. "Gimme a sec." Dean cleaned up his work. He backed up and grinned, "Go see." He nodded with a smile.
She jumped off the table, running to the motel bathroom. Her mouth dropped, eyes wide as she admired her new earrings. Tucking her hair behind her ears to reveal the two blue opal colored studs Dean found at the drugstore, she looked back at Dean beaming ear to ear.
Dean smiled back, feeling pretty proud of himself. Not being sure of the plan at first but seemingly satisfied with the outcome. It was a light in the mundane events of their everyday to see either of his siblings happy.
"Thank you, thank you Dean!" Millie came crashing into him. He returned the embrace, patting her back. "Course, sweetheart. You look beautiful." She smiled up at him.
"Just don't say anything to dad, got it? You hide that with your hair when he comes home."
"Deal." she shot him a thumbs up.
"Now let's do Sammy's ears." Dean laughed, so did Millie. "Yeah!" she turned to him.
summary: sam and dean find out about their little sisters ability to see things that aren't really there.
It was any other ordinary Tuesday night for the Winchesters. Millie was six at the time, even though she had become fully accustomed to the routines that would change back and forth, it could still be of a surprise at times.
Millie sat at the edge of the motel bed fidgeting with the crayon intertwined in her small fingers. A coloring book sat in the criss cross of her lap, Dean had been glued to a case that he'd been helping John trace.
Sam was feeling a little suffocated in the motel room after hours of John telling them to stay put, heading out to go gather more information. "Dean, I'm gonna go outside for a while." Sam stood up, shrugging on his hoodie.
"Where." Dean's stern voice cut through his focus on his cluster of papers.
"Stop at the quick mart, want anything?" He looked between his siblings. Dean shook his head.
"A juice? Please." Millie turned her head innocently. Sam nodded urgently and headed out. Dean turned back to the case study, Millie to her coloring.
The motel was warm with the sun rays melting through the thin tainted curtains, and silent. Except for if you listened closely to the mini fridge hum, the distant sound of cars passing by on the road, and the steady clink of the radiator.
Millie was in a trance of filling in a yellow circle for a sun in the upper corner of her page, when her hearing began to blur. The sound of passing cars faded away, the hum of the fridge becoming faint. The clink of the radiator gradually grew louder and slower. Millie looked up as her head started to feel fuzzy, that's when she saw her first ghost.
She didn't know what it was at first. Across the room, a few steps behind Dean was a hazy figure of a woman in battered clothing with blood not only staining them, but her skin as well. Her eyes were almost indecipherable with the heavy shadows cast over them. It looked terrifying to her. She froze, feeling her blood run cold, wanting to move but she couldn't bring herself to.
The moment harbored a weird feeling to Millie. Even though the image in front of her was startling, it didn't feel threatening, but she didn't quite understand how to decipher that.
Dean eventually broke out of his locked in state, noticing the stillness in the girl out of his peripheral. He glanced up shortly, double taking when he noticed the blank, pale stare infested across his sister's face.
"Millie." He pushed his chair out from the table. "Amelia!" He added a deeper note to his tone, tempting her attention to him. However, she remained frozen til Dean came over and shook her arm out of it. Millie whipped her stare toward her older brother, worry flashed across her face and quickly acted. She almost tried to pull him with her, standing up and letting her book fall, crayons scatter, she fled the room.
"Millie!" Dean sprung into action, calling out after her as she scurried outside. Millie was blinded with the unsettling image, unsure of where her strides were taking her, just wishing to remove herself from the sudden frightening presence. Her trance was broken when she felt a pair of arms wrap around her waist, pulling her back from almost running into the street. All the sounds of the world came flooding back to her at once, a car horn blaring loudly next to her as Dean spun her back in the opposite direction.
"Hey, what was that? You trying to give me a heart attack?!!" Dean yelled loudly over the passing by of traffic. Millie looked up at him, her eyes focused back on him in real time. Dean's panicked stricken anger softened once he noticed her heavy breathing and tears prickling at her lids.
"Baby, what's wrong?"
She continued to stand there looking up at Dean, as if she could search for the answer to her scare. He scooped the girl up and walked back to the room. As they approached the door, her grip only tightened around Dean's neck. He noticed, but hoped it would fade if he could get her to relax. He set Millie down and sat with her for a while, asking her questions and letting her know she was safe.
"You looked like you saw something Mill..."
She nodded slowly.
"Could you tell me what you saw? Is it still there?" Dean pried.
Millie just buried her face. Sam came back a while later as it started to become dark, he popped out his stringed earbuds when he noticed the tense energy. He raised an eyebrow at Dean, who shook his head in confusion. Once he was sure Millie was at ease, they gathered in a hushed conversation.
"She saw something... Bolted out of here, scared as shit." Dean trailed off.
"What'd she see?" Sam's wonder grew.
"Dunno. She hasn't said a word.
"You think it could be related to the case dad's hunting?"
"Possibly. It would surely help if I could get a description." Dean shook his head.
"You want me to try and tal-"
"No, I would let her be for the night. Just keep a close eye, we'll try again in the morning."
Millie usually shared the bed with Sam. He only got a few hours that night as she had a hard time laying still. The morning followed as usual with John stumbling in late, then going for coffee. Dean headed out with him to get breakfast so Sam got ready then helped Millie.
She was awfully quiet this morning, only giving small nods and mhms. Sam wanted not to pry but couldn't resist anymore. "Millie, what was it you saw yesterday." he kneeled to her level.
She averted her gaze, shaking her head. "If you're scared to talk about it... it won't hurt you, I won't let it."
She remained silent. It bothered the brothers that she didn't speak of it, until it happened again. And again.
They quickly realized that Millie had some sort of "gift"
A gift was a rather generous word. They wondered if it was just a temporary thing, her childlike imagination and paranormal energies reaching out to her vulnerable, innocent mind. But it continued, through out her growth, this ability followed.
The times it occurred after that day, she was willing to share what she saw. Sometimes it was the view of someone's ghost, or a glimpse of what they were hunting, or a clue. It varied, and she didn't see something often enough to where it was a regular occurrence.
Millie thought it was just her imagination as a kid, and that she'd grow out of it. When she didn't, she tried to make herself feel better by telling herself she'd get used to it. But how could you get used to such a thing?
At times, depending on what it was, it was occasionally useful to whatever case they were hunting. Sam and Dean tried hard not to ask too many questions, afraid of upsetting her, but she didn't mind. It was John that would be a little insensitive about it.
"What do you mean? Can't you do your psychic, ghost seeing thing to help us figure this shit out?"
"I-it's not that easy..." nine year old Millie crumbled under her father's harsh word.
Luckily for her, it occurred less and less as the years went on. Why it had to happen most when she was a scared little kid? She wasn't sure why.
Years and years later, it happened one night while the three of them were in the bunker.
Each sat at a spot around the library table. Millie was glued to a book, Dean finished up a sub sandwich, Sam tapped away on his laptop.
Millie all of a sudden felt her skin prickle with a cold chill, and the hair stand up on her neck. She sat up straighter to look around and froze when her eye caught sight of a hovering figure tucked back into a corner of the library. She lost grip of her book pages, they made noise as they fell back into their binded place.
Sam took a short glance at the noise disrupt in the calm silence, furrowing his brows when he noticed Millie's distress.
"Uh... you alright, kid?" the phrase grabbing now Dean's attention. The two turned their attention towards their sister's worried gaze that plastered across her features. Her eyes began to slightly water.
"Millie, do you see something?" Sam asked again.
She finally gathered her bearings, set her book down and arose.
"Wait- you're seeing something.. in the bunker? How is that possible?" Dean thought.
"Um... I don't know." She took off. Instead of fleeing to her room, she ascended up the bunker stairs. She wanted some air. Anytime she felt flustered, or overwhelm, Millie's go to place was just outside the thick, brick bunker walls.
After years on the road, she appreciated the vast silent ambiance their surroundings gave her. She hadn't had a place like that since being able to stay with Bobby.
"Mills, wait!" Sam called out after her.
She beat them to the outside corridor, flattening herself against the wall in attempts to ground herself. Catching her breath, she looked around, getting a grip on reality. She was safe, she had to be. The bunker is safe, she thought, her brothers were right there. Sam and Dean caught up, looking in all directions until she was spotted.
"Millie, what is it?" Dean breathlessly asked, approaching her with a soft hand.
"It's okay, it's nothing. I just needed some air." She attempted to shrug off.
"No. That's not gonna work this time. You saw, something in the bunker? I mean, that seems kind of important."
"But it's not, okay. Just drop it, I'm fine." She bit back a little harsh. Her expression shifted when she saw Dean recoil. Sam not far behind him.
"I'm sorry. Just-" she let out a breath and sank down onto the soft ground.
Dean relaxed, grunting as he lowered himself to join her. Shortly after, Sam too.
She looked up at them apologetically. "Guess I gotta spill now, right?"
"Mm, yeah pretty much." They hummed in agreement.
Millie gathered her thoughts, grasping her emotions internally.
"Well. Remember that time, back when I was, I dunno- six? I saw something in that motel room..."
Sam and Dean raised their eyebrows, immediately recognizing the memory. The one that they never got to solve.
"I... saw, my mom."
The two were taken back by the unexpected answer.
Millie slowly nodded. "I saw my mom, staring at me. She was dead." She continued. "It was scary to see at first, but it wasn't scary. I don't know how to explain it, but it didn't feel like she was there to scare me. It wasn't a threatening presence. I was just scared to see her like that."
Sam and Dean listened. "So, did you just see her again?" Sam spoke up.
"I'm not sure." she frowned. I didn't see, anything really. It was just a white, mist. Had a dull glow. It wasn't anything specific. But it was that same feeling I had, all those years ago when I saw her. It felt the same."
"Do you think she's attempting to reach out, in a way?" Sam asked, gesturing to Dean too.
Millie shrugged. "Honestly, if she is... I don't know why. I don't think there's much I can do to help her. Why do I have this? Why am I able to see things?"
"Like we discussed before, dad never spoke much about your mom's death. We don't know what could've happened in the months, weeks, days leading up to her disappearance. We don't know if anything could've happened to you..." Dean sympathized.
"Whatever it is, just know we're here. You can tell us these kinds of things." Sam reminded her.
"I know. You're the only family I need." Millie smiled.
pairings: dean winchester x millie winchester (oc)
summary: the aftermath of millie's mothers fate, finding out, and having to move on into her new life.
John continued to look for Millie's mother Elisabeth the next day, which turned into weeks. It was a strange case, most of the time he was able to track a missing person down within a couple of days. The unwanted worry pooled inside his mind, attempting to hide his stress from the three children he now had under his eye.
Millie slowly adjusted over the first couple of days the best she could. There was times she wanted to be upset, but she held it back. She didn't know why, but it wasn't all that bad. Millie much rather enjoyed being in the company of her newfound family, even among the most unexpected of times. However, as days passed, it became more difficult not having answers for Millie's curious mind.
"Do we live here?"
The boys having to explain why they were in a motel most of the time.
"Where is your mommy?"
That was a hard one.
"Why is daddy gone for so long?"
The hardest one of course was. "When is my mommy gonna come back." It broke their hearts. John, even Sam and Dean were starting to expect the worst.
And the worst was yet to come.
What took her mother ended up being a shape shifter. John didn't find out until he came face to face with it a month later, before he killed it.
The way John came in the door that night... Dean looked at him and immediately knew. It devastated them all. They dreaded having to tell the little girl, but it didn't go at all how they thought.
Millie didn't cry, didn't shed a tear actually. It was unexpected to say the least. John, selfishly enough, left it up to Dean to break the news. He was very slow and careful with his words, but was met with a dull reaction, one that left him wondering so many things.
All she had to say was, why?
"Why isn't mommy coming back?" or,
"what made her passed away" And then,
"so we're staying together then?"
"uhm, it looks that way. Yeah." Dean looked to his brother, and back to his sister who he had only known for a month now.
It then came down to a moment neither Sam or Dean were expecting.
Millie had fallen asleep for the night, John was sitting in front of the television, drinking.
Dean came to join him, awaiting to hear what was next. "She's asleep. We should get her some clothes, toys, some..."
"she's not stayin'" John uttered.
Dean turned his head. "Excuse me?"
John twisted his expression. "S'cuse you... I call the shots, she ain't staying with us."
"What do you mean? I-I mean are you serious right now, you're just gonna kick your own daughter to the curb..."
"Let me be clear, she wasn't part of the plan. You boys tied up in all this is enough." John slurred, slightly buzzed.
"You screwing other women wasn't part of the plan either but you're still responsible." Dean blurted out his inner thought.
John stood up. "Watch your mouth!"
"Me? Why don't you keep your voice down as your daughter, is sleeping right over there." Dean had had about enough. His thoughts completely shifted once Millie came into his life. He was no longer concerned about being his father's right hand man, ready to listen and obey at every command. He never thought outside of that box until he met her. Now, he was beginning to question everything his father brought onto them. His own thoughts and words arguing back at his father even surprising him.
"She'll be better off where someone can take care of her, and you know it." John pointed.
"Sure, but with who? And you want her to be torn away from us, the only family she's got now after she just found out that her mother is dead? How's that gonna sit with her, huh?" Dean standing now too, the conversation getting intense.
It went back and forth, back and forth, Sam interrupted "Yeah dad, I think she should stay with us. I know it's dangerous but haven't we already come close? We can keep her safe, we'll watch after h-"
"Whatever!" He cut off. "But she stays at Bobby's for a while." John turned around towards the mini fridge to grab another beer.
Dean relaxed the tension in his chest and looked over at the somehow still sleeping girl who looked so tiny under the covers of the big bed.
John... actually stopped in defeat. That night was the first time Dean felt heard to an extent. He pushed his will to the limits for the sake of his sister, and would continue to do so from there on out. Just as he would for Sammy.
~
Millie stood at the steps of Bobby's house holding Dean's hand. His other hand grasping the handle of her unicorn backpack stuffed with clothes and other items they had picked up for her.
"Is Bobby your grandpa?" she shuffled and looked up at Dean.
"He's more like our uncle. You can call him Uncle Bobby." He kept his voice positive. Dean could sense something was off with Millie that day, how she seemed more nervous and antsy.
"It'll be alright. You can trust him, just as much as you can trust Sammy and I." Dean nudged.
"And daddy?" she questioned softly. Dean just nodded.
Bobby opened the door seconds later, standing up a little straighter once he saw Sam and Dean. He looked down and his eyes softened at the little girl, looking back up at him with an empty gaze.
Once inside after his hello's to the boys, he took what of a knee he could to meet Millie's level. "Hi there little miss, you're Millie isn't that right?" She shyly nodded. "I'm Bobby." He introduced, standing straight up again.
"If there's anything you ever need, you just ask. Don't be shy now." He nodded with a friendly grin. John stumbled in moments later.
"Sam, Dean, why don't you boys take er outside for a bit. I'm gonna catch up with your daddy."
"Sure."
The three kids wandered out onto the property near Bobby's junkyard. "What are all those cars doing here?" Millie asked.
"Those are junk cars. Uncle Bobby has a salvage yard to recycle old car parts." Dean walked through the aisles of cars, gazing at each. Millie's eyes lit up for a moment. "Can I drive?" she looked back, waiting for her big brother's approval. He knew she wasn't serious, none of the cars around were running at the moment. "Sure, but please stay close." He pleaded as his eye caught an old car, still built up in decent condition.
Sam dragged his feet through the dusty dirt path, glancing back at the house ever so often. Wondering the things being discussed by the adults. He wished he could stay with Millie at Bobby's, dreading having to go back on the road with no timeline to their return. The sun shone down on his face, relaxing it with warmth. He took in this moment, unsure of when he'd get another moment of peace and quiet, away from noisy roads, busy diners, same old rambling. He almost didn't notice Millie running at him.
Millie had found an old car with the driver door still intact. She pulled with all her might and stumbled back once her force pried it open. She climbed in the bench seat and took hold of the giant steering wheel. Millie gazed up at the dusty windshield with a backwards number written on it, smiling to herself. She pretended to steer the wheel, making rumbling noises, imagining the trees moving as she 'drove'
She wondered why the steering wheel was so big, and noted how her feet barely reached the pedals. It always looked so easy when adults drove the car. She pushed all the buttons on the radio, and tinkered around before deciding she was done. As she climbed out the door of the car, she grasped the side panel for leverage. Once she let go, Millie felt her skin slice open on a jagged piece of exposed metal. She gasped, seeing the red flow out and freaked out.
She ran back down the dirt path, bumping into Sam who panicked when he saw her tears and her holding her hand.
"Hey, hey, what's wrong?" She took her shoulders.
"I cut my hand on the car." She sniffled.
"Can I see?" Sam showed his gentle grasp towards her, revealing the cut that oozed.
He blew out a breath of air. "Okay, it doesn't look too bad. Let's go get a band aid." Sam guided her back towards the house. "Where's Dean?"
Millie shrugged her shoulders through her soft cries. "I don't see him." Sam patted her back and led her through the house.
Bobby's eyes turned towards Millie's distressed face, continuing to hold her hand while Sam looked through cabinets. "Uh oh, what's goin' on?"
"She cut her hand while playing near one of the cars." Sam held a box of bandages.
"Oh, c'mere kid." He hoisted the girl up into his arms, sitting her down on the kitchen counter. "Lemme see this here... oh you took a good one didn't you?"
"I wanted to drive." Millie justified through her sniffles.
"Driving without a license, that's pretty bold!" Bobby joked. Sam handed him the box. Bobby poured some antiseptic on a cotton pad, cleaning the gash gingerly. Millie scrunched her nose, pulling away slightly.
"I'm almost done here, sweetie." He finished up with a band aid. "Look at that, smallest trooper I ever saw."
Millie smiled, wiping her nose with her sleeve. He turned to Sam "I think we'll be okay here." Bobby gave him a wink.
Dean rushed in. "Hey- oh thank god. Where'd she run off too..." He slowed, eyeing her bandaged hand.
"Dean, were you watching her?" Sam stepped toward him.
"Uh, yeah. I-I was. She just ran off for a moment. Everything okay?" He rubbed the back of his neck.
"Just as much as it might look like fun out there, you gotta be careful near some of those old lemons. Got some rust buckets that can be real sharp." Bobby deferred the tension to Millie. "She's okay, Dean."
"Yeah, we'll be okay here." Millie smiled, her face had brightened up for the first time since they got there.
It was a difficult goodbye the next morning, John ready to set out on the road again. Sam attempted to get John to agree on letting him stay with Bobby too but wasn't in the listening mood. Dean didn't bother, knowing he'd want him along to help.
"When are you coming back to get me?" Millie followed her father as he was trailing toward the car with a duffel bag.
"Not sure yet. But hopefully soon." His response was short, his mind was focused on the hunt, not leaving room in his mind for little nuances of the sort. Millie stopped and stared at him going through the trunk, her heart sank as she felt something telling her she wasn't going to get an answer from him. She turned around, hearing Dean follow outside.
"Hey kiddo, what's-"
Millie ran up to Dean, grabbing a hold of his shirt so tight she was afraid of letting go. She buried her face, enough to shield herself from getting air. Dean stumbled back, caught off guard by the sudden approach.
"we're leaving in 5!" John called out, heading back into the house for one last thing.
Dean looked down and pulled Millie away when he felt her shoulders shake with sobs.
"Baby... what's the matter? C'mere." He pulled her into a hug. Her short arms almost choked his neck with how hard she held on. "Are you ever gonna come back for me?" She cried over his shoulder.
It all came out right there. All the fear, uncertainty, unanswered questions and worry that consumed her. Everything she held back until now, not knowing how bad it had been waiting to fall free.
"Millie, of course." Dean brought her away from his shoulder. "Of course we're coming back."
"bu-but daddy doesn't know." She hiccuped forcibly.
"I know, and I wish I did. But it will be the first thing on my mind. I don't care if I have to find a way back here myself, I will. And Sammy's comin' with me."
She fell into his embrace once again, fearing being left again. "Don't worry, dad is just focused on work. But remember, Bobby will take care of you and keep you safe for now. I'll call you to check in, any chance I get. Would you like that?"
"Mhm." Millie nodded.
"Good. I'll be looking forward to it, until I can see you again." Dean tried his best to smile when all he could see were the saddest eyes in front of him. God did it break his heart. She held it together up until now, and her reality all came crashing down. Never did he think that something so small could make him feel so... much.
"Dean, let's go." John's firm voice shattered the silent moment.
Dean's head dropped before returning to her pleading gaze.
"I promise, sweetheart. You hold me to it, too." He squeezed her hand before standing up and retreating to the impala. He stood aside it, waiting for Sam as he took his turn to say not goodbye, but rather a 'see you later'
Millie walked back to the front steps where Bobby stood with a slight nod and a wave. He put a reassuring hand on her shoulder as those words repeated back in her head.
pairings: sam & dean winchester x john winchester x millie winchester (oc)
summary: the beginning of Millie's story, meeting her brothers for the first time and being ushered into the Winchester family by surprise. (Dean is 16, Sam is 12)
The day Sam and Dean met Millie was a whirlwind. It was the most unexpected of events that changed the course of their family, but from there on out, they wouldn't have it any other way.
The three Winchesternboys were camped out in another dingy motel room sometime in March. In a small town on the outskirts of Minnesota, the early spring air was still a bit chilly, just starting to defrost from winter. Dean was on edge as he awaited John's next order, helping him organize some supplies while Sam quietly worked on homework at the table. The silence broke with a ring coming from John's cell.
"This is John." his firm voice shattered the silence after he flipped his cell open, holding it to his ear intently.
Sam and Dean awaited on the mystery that rambled on the other line, seeing how John's face twisted with confusion and slight annoyance.
"Yes..." he turned around and began pacing as he continued to listen. Four year old Millie had been held up at preschool, her mother never showed up at the end of the day. The supervisor tried the emergency contact number, left by Millie's mother after not being able to reach her.
"Well, I'm at least a few hours away..." John seemed to protest.
After much more conversation on the other end, he came to a decision.
"Alright. I'm on my way."
"Who's that?" Dean asked, recoiling in the slightest when he saw his father's reaction.
He received a dead on stare as John didn't stop moving around the room, beginning to gather things.
"Grab your stuff. We're leaving."
Dean read it loud and clear as being none of his business for now, until they arrived at their next destination. He nudged Sam out of his book, and assumed it was another hunt their father was being summoned to for help. He soon realized it was much different than the norm.
John's body language and nervous energy on the drive there had Dean tense. The way his father aimed his gaze to the windshield and locked in was different than usual. He wanted so bad to ask about the destination, the plan, but refrained for the time being, afraid of upsetting his father in an already tense situation. But unfortunately, Sam already made that move.
"Where are we going, dad?" Sam's voice sounded small and innocent from the backseat.
John's eyes snapped out of his trance and sighed. He didn't say a word until they got to the next motel in Baraboo, Wisconsin.
"Go get a room, I'll be back shortly. I'm gonna need your guys help with something." John explained as he pulled into the parking lot. Dean and Sam exited with their things, John took off rather quickly.
"What do you think dad's got going on?" Sam asked his older brother as they entered their room.
"I dunno Sammy, but it's definitely not an average day for him, I can tell. " Dean wondered himself.
It was about 9pm when John made it to the school. One of teachers compromised to wait there with Millie until John said he'd arrive at that time.
The teacher glanced twice at Millie's dull reaction to seeing John. She showed some concern which John reassured that everything was okay with one of his excuses. Millie hadn't seen her dad many times in her life, and the times she did, she was too young to remember. But she knew her dad's name was John, and if school believed it was him then she was okay with it.
It was a very quiet ride back to the motel. Millie sat in the back seat staring wide eyed at John. He could feel her eyes on him but didn't know what to do about it. There were lots of questions up in her mind of course, but she had decided she didn't want to be a bother with the stern man who was her father. She had already asked where her mom was to which John replied with some excuse saying he had to go find her.
John swung the motel room door open, guiding a hesitant little Millie through the door. Sam and Dean's eyes went wide and confused when they saw the girl. A short, brown hair, brown eyed girl. With two tiny pink little bows in the front of her hair, dressed in a jumper with butterflies on it. She looked wildly confused, but calm in the middle of the unknown.
"Boys, this is Millie. You're gonna look after her while I go find her mother."
Dean stood up, trying to hide his bewildered expression. "Uh, dad... Wha-"
"That's an order." His voice remained firm. "Make sure she's safe. I'll be back when I can."
"Yes sir." Dean stiffened.
It was silent for a moment after John shut the door. Taking care of a younger child was no strange task for him, but it wasn't often than a kid other than Sam was left with him. Especially not a victims child.
"Hello." Dean slowly approached the girl as if not trying to spook her.
"Hi." Her reply soft in return. She looked around, shuffling in place.
"I'm Dean, and that's my little brother Sam." He gestured. It was a bit awkward, almost comically awkward for a moment. The girl nodded.
"Would you like something to eat?" Dean offered, walking over to the small kitchenette.
"Yes, please." Her face visibly relaxed a bit.
"I could make you some macaroni and cheese. Do you like mac n cheese?" Dean asked.
Millie smiled and nodded. "I've had mac and cheese lots of times." She exclaimed proudly.
Sam pulled out a chair for her to sit at the table. He sat and kept her company while Dean cooked.
"How old are you, Millie?"
"I'm four. I go to preschool now." her legs dangled back and forth.
Sam continued to ask questions, keep her mind busy until her food was ready. Sam and Dean stepped further into the room to talk while she ate.
"Why do you think dad's having us watch some kid?" Sam wondered.
"Who knows, from your conversation with her, she seems weirdly okay with this chain of events." Dean stated.
"What do you mean?" Sam whispered back.
"I mean, the kids not really in much distress, seeing as that her mom is missing and she's not going home tonight." Dean fretted.
"I don't think dad would be having us watch a little kid unless it had some importance to him." Sam expressed.
Dean looked at Sam as if he just heard him say the smartest thing ever. "I- I think you're right."
Dean made his way back over to sit at the table. "Millie, do you know where your mom is?" Dean treaded lightly, not wanting to upset the young girl.
She shook her head. "I think she is at work." digging into more mac n cheese.
"What does your mommy do for work?"
"She makes drinks at a store."
The boys face twisted in confusion. "Yeah? What kind of store...."
"I don't remember what the name is. It's a store for grown ups only. I've been there before though, and the nice person mommy works for gives me chicken tenders."
It dawned on them. "Is your mom a bartender?"
"Yes, that's the word. Sometimes she comes to get me later than the other kids, but she's never been this late before."
Dean thought for a moment before asking something else. "So, do you know John? The man that drove you here?"
"Yeah. He's my daddy." Millie said as if it was obvious.
Both boys fell silent, staring at Millie now more intently. There it was. Why John was in such a rush, and how he didn't say much at all. Dean held back his racing thoughts for a moment.
"Do... do you see your dad a lot?"
"No, not really." She shook her head.
"When was the last time you saw your dad?" Dean became more invested in this new discovery with each question. Sam sat stunned beside him.
"In the car when he was taking me here." Millie innocently responded.
"No, sweetie, I mean before today."
"Oh. I dunno." She shrugged her shoulders, seeming to care less about the fact that John was around for once.
"Well, do you wanna know something crazy?" Dean tried enticing the girl away from the amounts of attention she was giving to her mac n cheese.
"What." She said with a mouthful.
"John is our daddy too... Sam and I."
"Dean... should we be-" Sam grew concerned, not wanting to get in trouble if Millie knew the truth.
"S'okay Sam." He shrugged him off.
Millie's attention dropped from the bowl in front of her finally, she finished chewing her food before looking up at them surprised.
"John is both our daddies?" She sat up, curious about this new information.
"Mhmm." Dean nodded.
"Do you have my mommy too?" Millie's eyes brightened.
"Uh, no. I don't think so. Just dad." Dean explained as politely as he could.
"So we are friends now?" Millie wondered with slight excitement brewing.
"Sure, but, not just that... We're your brothers." Dean clarified.
Millie smiled real big. "Do I have sisters too?"
Dean held back a laugh. "No, just us brothers.... I think." He mumbled sarcastically.
"That's still good." Millie continued. "Are you gonna come to my house to play?"
Dean's expression fell. "I'm not sure yet, sweetheart. It is really late though, so, we're gonna sleep here tonight... okay?" He phrased sort of as a question, even though none of them really had a choice.
Millie swallowed and stood up. "Okay. I go bathroom first." Her little feet padded off to the small motel bathroom, closing the door behind her. She came out moments later, grabbing her school backpack and climbing onto one of the motel beds with it. Seeing as it was all she had with her, she unzipped it, pulling out a book and began reading it to herself.
For only four years old, Sam and Dean noticed how seemingly independent she was. Sam looked over at Dean who watched the young girl with curiosity, and a little sadness. He took it upon himself to tuck her into bed. He'd never been an older sibling before, the idea being foreign, new but exciting. And he only found out minutes ago.
"Would you like me to read to you?" Sam sat on the edge of the bed.
"My mommy says grown ups don't have time to read, so I read to myself. Mommy says it makes me smarter!" Millie cheered.
Sam let out a slight laugh. "That is true. But, I have plenty of time to read you a story. May I?" He held out a hand for the book. Millie's smile grew. "Okay."
She handed over the book, Sam fumbled with the cover revealing the story of The Rainbow Fish. As he read each page with energy and animation, Millie giggled at his words as she settled into the covers.
Once Sam was finished, he turned the bedside lamp off, leaving only the overhead light over by the living area.
Dean's cell rang, he hurried outside the room to take the call. Sam turned back to Millie. "Goodnight. Try and get some sleep, okay?"
She nodded. "Sam!" she called out seconds later, he turned back to her.
"Is my mommy gonna come back?" worry filled her voice.
Sam tried to hide the defeat that fell upon him. "Don't worry. Dad is gonna do everything he can to find her." He reassured her.
Soon, Millie was asleep and Dean popped his head in the door, trying to keep his movements quiet, not to wake the girl. He motioned for Sam to follow him outside.
"She good?" He asked once the door was shut. "Yeah. Was that dad?" Sam breathed out like he had been holding it in too long.
"Yup." Dean paused.
"And..." Sam waited.
Dean rubbed a hand across his face. Whatever John just said over the phone left a heavy weight on Dean.
"Remember that woman here in Wisconsin that dad would check in on occasionally?" Dean started. Sam racked his brain for an idea but was left empty minded. "Not really, who?"
"Elisabeth Hudson..."
Sam managed to catch on. "That's who dad is out searching for." Dean nodded. The boys were able to put two and two together.
John met Elisabeth at a bar she'd been working at, and had been seeing her more after he found out she was pregnant and decided to keep the baby. Initially he was hesitant in wether he should be involved or not, either way he figured it would end up being another two people in his life that would be in danger if he didn't do something about it. So he would check in here and there when he could.
He chose not to mention the details to the boys, not wanting to risk them getting attached. After Dean hung up the phone with John, who finally revealed who he was out looking for. He realized this wasn't the first time they've seen Millie.
John would pop into Elisabeth's apartment with the boys, lying and saying it was a hunter friend he knew, needing to discuss some things. The boys would usually be told to sit in the living room, away from the conversation. That's where they would see a baby girl, standing up in her pack and play. Looking around the room and at the two boys while John and her mother would talk in the kitchen.
"This whole time... this entire damn time, he couldn't just tell us?" Dean was in disbelief once he figured it out. They had seen her once, twice, maybe three times before, not knowing it was their sister. John neglected to think that it would come up sooner or later. Dean was furious, to think that this whole time, their whole life was surrounded by John's deep rooted grief in wanting to get revenge on the demon that killed Mary. To go aside and take on a totally different responsibility? That was the moment, Dean decided he wanted to defy John, or at least try, see where it went. Even though it was a scary idea.
Dean wasn't angry at Millie's existence, he knew it wasn't her fault. He was angry that his father couldn't figure out his priorities and how him and his little brother had no choice but to be dragged around in their father's mess.
Sam saw the conflicting emotions in Dean's eyes. After their conversation he went back inside the room to try and go to sleep. Dean sat on the bench outside the motel room, anticipating John's return. He was fed up with the secrets, he wanted to confront John. He put Sam and him in this life, he felt it was only fair that he had a right to know what was going on.
It was around 4am when the impala rumbled into the parking lot. John tried to avoid Dean's stance next to the motel room door, but was stopped with a firm hand.
"It'd be best to move out of the way, son." John's eyes were tired. It had been almost two days since he'd slept.
"We need to talk." Dean demanded.
"We can talk in the morning." John protested, trying to push past to the door. Dean's hand stopped him.
"She's asleep." He mentioned as it should've been obvious.
"You two should be too." John grew annoyed.
"What happened. Where's her mother?" Dean questioned.
"I said we'll talk about it in the AM."
"Well could you at least explain to me why you didn't think it was important enough to tell us Millie is our sister?!" Dean grew louder.
John stopped in his tracks. "So you know..." He said in between surprise and pissed off.
"At this point, it was gonna come up anyways, huh?" Dean stood his ground, ready to fight back at whatever John was about to throw at him.
The voices grew louder, angrier, enough to wake Sam. Eventually waking Millie too.
Millie sat up, seeing Sam leaning against the wall, listening to the fight breaking out, outside the door.
"Who's yelling?" She asked groggily.
Sam jumped, turning around to the sleepy bedhead rubbing her eyes. "It's nothing. Dean is just talking to dad outside." He came over to sit next to her.
"They sound mad." She shivered.
Sam gave her a sympathetic look, scooting close and putting an arm around her small frame.
"It's okay. Sometimes, dad just has to talk things out... loudly." Sam tried his best to explain.
"So daddy is back? Did he get my mommy?" Millie stood up from bed, padding over to the front door.
"No, Millie wait, I don't think that's a good idea right now." Sam stopped her from opening the door.
"Well fine!" John yelled. "If you're not gonna drop this right now, I'll get some sleep elsewhere." John turned around heading for the car. He opened the door and slid into the back seat.
Dean huffed and came back inside the room, surprised but not to see both his siblings up and awake.
"Where's dad?" Sam asked, looking behind Dean.
"Sleeping in the car." Dean shook his head.
Millie looked up him with her big brown doe eyes. "Are you and daddy mad?" her voice almost a whisper.
"No, no. Not mad at you, never mind that." Dean came over to her slowly, guiding her back into bed. "Millie, sweetheart, can I tell you something."
"Yeah." Her voice still positive.
"I'm going to be honest with you, okay. Because I don't want to keep secrets from you. You wouldn't want me to keep secrets from you, right?" Dean tried his best to remain calm.
"We are friends, so friends can share secrets." Millie nodded.
"Exactly. So, I want to let you know that, we're gonna try and find your mom, okay. But, if there is a chance that... we can't. I want you to know that you'll always have us, me and Sammy."
"What about my dad, and your guys's dad?" Millie chimed in.
Dean hesitated. "Yeah, dad too. If anything is to ever happen, we will be here. To keep you safe, so, I don't want you to worry, alright?"
Millie looked down, thinking to herself for a moment. Dean studied her face, trying to see if she understood. She didn't completely, but Dean's words struck a good cord. Millie looked back up to her brothers. "I can be here for you too, all the time." She smiled. "And Sammy too." Dean smiled at her resilience, unsure of the road ahead, but he knew this kid would be alright.
From that day on, the Winchester family grew by one more.
